Caught Stealing 2025 Review

Ring! Ring! Ring… 1998 is calling, and it wants its Giants baseball cap back. From the jump, Darren Aronofsky throws us into a world dripping in ’90s nostalgia—grunge flannels, flip phones, and soundtracks that make you want to dust off your old CD collection.

And then there’s the cast: Zoe Kravitz, Austin Butler, Bad Bunny, and Regina King. Yeah, I had to watch it. I mean, come on, Zoe Kravitz as Yvonne even flashes us her assets in the first five minutes. Bold move, Aronofsky, bold move. But it sets the tone: flashy, chaotic, and unapologetically ’90s.

Caught Stealing is all about crime and consequence, with a story that’s part action thriller, part dark comedy, part philosophical rumination on human choices. Austin Butler plays Hank Thompson, a burned-out ex-baseball player turned bartender who’s stuck between corrupt cops, mobsters, and a hidden key that promises to solve everyone’s problems. And yes, there’s a cat. A cat that, unlike most of the characters, sticks around, watching Hank’s chaos unfold like some furry Greek chorus.

If you’re a fan of ’90s action nostalgia, the chase sequences will make your inner adrenaline junkie squeal. Think Keanu Reeves in Point Break, but with a New York City twist. Aronofsky even throws in Guy Ritchie-style montages and character intros, so you get that sharp, stylised crime vibe, but with his signature dramatic weight. Hank’s guilt and pain hit hard thanks to flashbacks: a teenage car crash that ended his baseball dreams and killed his friend, leaving him physically and emotionally scarred. Butler nails that quiet, simmering regret, making you care about a guy who’s technically a criminal.

Austin Butler as Hank Thompson

The supporting cast is a treat, too. My favourite scenes? The Hasidic brothers—played by Liev Schreiber and Vincent D’Onofrio—chase Hank through New York. It’s terrifying, hilarious, and pure ’90s action energy. I couldn’t help but think of Point Break and those classic chase montages.

And the soundtrack. Oh, the soundtrack! It’s not just background noise—it’s a character. From Russ, Hank’s punk-spiked British neighbour, to the general ’90s grunge vibe, it anchors the film firmly in the era. Every scene feels authentic, even when the story jumps between gritty violence and comedic absurdity.

Which brings me to my one complaint: Aronofsky doesn’t always nail the blend of dark comedy and violence. Where a Tarantino or Ritchie would have you laughing at the absurdity while still feeling the stakes, some comedic beats here feel… awkward. Cringe even. But then again, maybe that’s part of the charm—it keeps you off balance, just like the characters themselves.

Matt Smith as Russ, the neighbour on the left

The pacing is another mixed bag. The first two acts zip along like a stolen sports car through Manhattan streets, but the last act drags. Moments that should feel tense and thrilling instead start to feel stretched out. But even here, the tension is punctuated by Aronofsky’s careful attention to character. Hank’s decisions weigh on him, morally and emotionally, in a way that most straight-up action flicks wouldn’t bother with.

Zoe Kravitz’s Yvonne is another point of discussion. She’s tantalising, efficient, disappears when she needs to, and comes back when she’s useful. Most characters in this film are like that—brief, intense, and then gone—except the cat. And that’s oddly comforting, in a twisted sort of way.

At its best, Caught Stealing is a beautifully messy, stylishly violent romp that feels like someone shoved a ’90s action classic, a Guy Ritchie crime montage, and a dash of Aronofsky’s psychological weight into a blender and hit puree. At its worst, the tone wobbles, pacing drags, and the humour sometimes falls flat. But that’s part of its charm. It doesn’t apologise for being uneven. It’s chaotic, it’s brash, and it’s very, very human.

The cat and Hank

So, if you’re in the mood for a film that’s nostalgic, a little dirty, often funny, and occasionally gut-punching, give Caught Stealing a watch. And keep an eye on the cat, you’ll be rooting for it more than some of the people.

Jump in, buckle up, and enjoy the 90s-fuelled chaos—just don’t forget your Giants cap.

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Behind the Scenes: The Soundtrack That Steals The Show

Before I even noticed what was happening on screen, I was hooked by what I was hearing. The opening sequence of Caught Stealing doesn’t just show you ’98 New York—it blasts it at you with 90s punk rock and the on-screen text “set in 1998.” Right there, I knew the soundtrack would define the energy of the entire film.

Left: Austin Butler, Matt Smith, and director, Darren Aronofsky

Rob Simonsen composed the score, but the British post-punk band Idles brought the grit. According to frontman Joe Talbot, their collaboration with Darren Aronofsky came from a chance backstage encounter during The Tonight Show. Idles contributed five songs, including a cover of Junior Murvin’s Police and Thieves, giving the film its jagged, kinetic pulse. Every chase, confrontation, and chaotic turn feels sharper because the music dictates the rhythm.

Left: Rob Simonsen. Right: Joe Talbot

What I loved is how the soundtrack interacts with the film’s editing and camera work. Abrupt cuts, frantic New York chases, and tense stand-offs all feel heightened because the music drives the pace. It’s rare to see a score do so much narrative heavy-lifting without overwhelming the visuals. And singer-turned-actor like Bad Bunny, as the Puerto Rican hitman, adds performance energy that makes every beat and riff land harder.

Bad Bunny

For filmmakers, sound designers, and film students, this is a masterclass in music-led storytelling. The soundtrack isn’t just accompaniment—it shapes emotion, character, and tension. Watching how Aronofsky and Idles synced sound with action is like peeking under the hood of cinematic chaos.

Listen, watch, feel. In Caught Stealing, the soundtrack isn’t just a backdrop—it’s a pulse. Study it, take notes, and see how music can make your story hit harder.